Scarborough Downs mixed-use plan approved

Photo / Jim Neuger

Scarborough Downs, one of southern Maine's largest parcels of centrally located undeveloped land, was purchased for $6.7 million by two Scarborough families, who plan to keep the harness-racing track open but are looking to redevelop much of the rest of the site. The Scarborough Planning Board has approved a master plan for the 500-acre property for a mixed-use community with housing, retail and green space.

The Scarborough Planning Board approved a master plan for the 500-acre Scarborough Downs property for a mixed-use community with housing, retail and green space.

The Forecaster reported that the first phase of development will focus on 57 acres that abut Route 1, Enterprise Drive and Sawyer Drive and will include 56 multi-family apartments, 24 condominiums, 24 duplexes, 30 single-family homes and a memory-care facility.

Dan Bacon, a planning project manager with the Gorrill Palmer engineering and planning firm hired by property owner Crossroads Holdings LLC, told the newspaper that other sections are being considered for commercial and industrial activity, additional mixed-use and residential development, and a shopping center and office campus. The harness racing track might be retained.

Crossroads Holdings LLC consists of two sets of brothers — William, Marc and Rocco Risbara III of Risbara Bros., and Peter and Richard Michaud, formerly of Michaud Distributors — Scarborough families who bought the property for $6.7 million in a deal announced last December. Immediate plans called for investing $20 million in infrastructure upgrades.

The Scarborough Downs track will remain open and will continue to be operated by the Terry family, the sellers, as it has for 38 years. The 60-plus employees at Scarborough Downs will retain their jobs.